Canadian Sport for Life

Making Sport More Effective

Drew Mitchell viaSport British Columbia

VISION

An active, healthy British Columbia where sport inspires a field of possibilities for all

MISSION

To lead a united sport sector in a culture of achievement to make sport and physical activity relevant for all British Columbians of every skill level at all ages – providing opportunity and access to play, train, compete, succeed and live an active, healthy life.

Vision & Mission

FACEBOOK CHLDREN

In one generation we have eradicated a human behaviour

Changing Landscape

Kid’s are less active • -many do not walk to school • -many do not have as much physical play • -many have less PE and/or lower quality PE • -participate in sport less • -many do not stay in sport as long • -are over structured/organized • Adults are less active • Busy lifestyles • Two parents working – priorities…….

World Bank (April 2012)

Overweight and Obese Adult Canadians

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

ABC OW OB OW+OB

Perc

enta

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65%

System Challenged

• Schools have all the kids but limited ability to deliver quality physical literacy development

• Recreation departments service a smaller number of the population hence impact can be limited

• Sport Clubs are challenged with coach recruitment & training, facility access, inter sport competition & early specialization

• Typically Health Authorities programming focuses on the sick or the “at risk” of being sick and has less focus on prevention

Canadian Sport for Life

Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) is a movement to make sport better.

Canadian Sport for Life

The Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) movement provides a roadmap to utilize better methods and promote:

INCREASED participation in sport at all development stages

QUALITY sport being delivered at all development stages, and the

STRATEGIC use of sport to better society

LTAD Evolution

• National Sport Organizations (NSOs) have developed Long Term Athlete Development Models

• Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) have taken the LTAD Models and developed an Implementation Plan – 40 done to date in BC!

• Clubs work with PSOs to “evolve” the way their sport is delivered…..

Recreation Departments

Schools

Health Departments

Recreation /

Physical

Activity

Sport

Participation

Active for Life

Physical Literacy

Excellence

CS4L facilitates all children to

be physically literate

(competent in fundamental

movement and sport skills -

FMS)

CS4L shifts learning,

training and

competition from

“age” to “stage”

CS4L identifies how all

Canadians can be physically

active through sport/recreation

and participation at the right

level and for life

100% of population

Infa

nts

S

enio

rs

Canadian Sport for Life

Optimum Time to Learn

CS4L Site

What We are Learning

• Develop Physical Literacy • Leave kids in stages longer.. • Let them become better “athletes”

• Prioritize coach engagement and education re

CS4L • Early Specialization does not work……..

Sport is Shifting…..

• Tennis – Progressive Tennis – Community Tennis

• Volleyball – Mini and Atomic Volleyball

• Field Hockey – Blended Team Format

• USA Hockey – American Development Model

• Competition Changes – Soccer

Competition in Early Stages of Soccer LTPD

Remove standings at Stages 1,2 and 3

(U12 and below) • The argument: standings and trophies are

needed to motivate athletes to compete • Experience shows us that young children will

compete even in the absence of league standings or trophies

• Diminishes the incentive for coaches at these levels to play to “win the league” and also reduces pressure from parents to win, to perform, and to avoid mistakes.

Disadvantages of Posting Standings

• coaches tend to: play their strongest players,

• leave their ‘weak’ players on the bench,

• specialize players in positions prematurely,

• use game tactics solely with the aim to win,

• promote an attitude of don’t take any chances,

• and don’t allow the children to experiment with their own skills and decision making.

Advantages of not Posting Standings

• equal playing time can more easily be justified, • coaches can now experiment more with

positions and field alignment • all players are encouraged to try new skills in a

competitive environment without the fear of making a mistake that could cost a league result,

• easier for the coach to pursue a broad based approach to player development rather than the narrow view of ‘we must get three points today’.

Communities are Shifting…..

• Richmond – Sport for Life Strategy

• Port Coquitlam – Sport Alliance

• Surrey – Sport Coordinator and Sport Committee

• Vancouver Sport Network

• Kamloops – Sport Council

• Nanaimo – Health Alliance

Realities

The Research is Clear!

The Majority of High Performance Athletes came/come from:

Early Diversification/

Late Specialization Yet we still promote and support Early

Specialization in Hockey!!!!!

Opportunity

We can do this better……..it shouldn’t just be about winning games! It should be about fun and friends and getting better……

Thank you for your time.